Flaws in Marx's view towards religion

“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people” –Karl Marx

Marx expresses his critical view towards the role of religion in Introduction to A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. He opens with a statement saying that “criticism of religion is the prerequisite for all criticism”. However, I personally do not agree completely with Marx’s view on religion— while it is true that man made religion, he is wrong in his generalization that religions is the “opium” of the people for religion leads people to the right path.

Marx persists his opinion, which is influenced by Feuerbach, that people see themselves as helpless and depend upon a highly powerful figure. By being religious, people are not aware of the world they are living it, but are secured in a false way which leads them to accept their current unworthy status. Moreover, Marx insists that since religion is a creation based on human needs, it is the “general theory of this world … and [the world’s] general basis of consolation and justification”. Following his logic leads to “criticism of religion as the prerequisite of all criticism” and the destruction of religion as a crucial step in freeing oneself from all of social evils.

Despite Marx’s seemingly persuasive argument against religion, his ideas are generalized and overlook the benefits of religions. While it is true that people depend on religion for security matters, Marx is wrong in his claim that “struggle against the religion is indirectly the struggle against the world”. He viewed economy as the source of social evils and church as an institution dependent upon the materialistic gains in order to smoothly run the organization. Marx’s opinion of religion and church is too simplified as he tries to find an answer to the problem of the society— why do some prosper while others suffer in poverty and why aren’t workers enraged by their current status?

Religion also has more to offer to people than have harmful effects. As mentioned above, people depend on religion for security reasons— people need something to rely on to alleviate concerns and anger. Marx views this as the opiate aspect of religion, but religion gives people hopes and importance of everyday life.

Marx’s pessimistic view on religion as the “opium” of people is invalid. He failed to see the benefits people can get from having a religion and over simplified the religion as a tool of manipulating the poor.